Month: July 2024

True North Ale Company Straight Up – American IPA at 6.4% ABV (C$9.95 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 15-Feb-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 11-Jun-2024)

Appearance: crystal clear pale gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, excellent retention and spotty soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, dank resiny pine, citrus, pale biscuity malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (4/5)

NO. Bad brewer, no cookie for you. “True North” is Canada, no ifs, ands or buts about it. We own that shit, just like Mounties Tim Horton’s I dunno, something we haven’t sold out. Passive aggressive apologising? British spelling? Anyway, nice beer. “Dry hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe, and Idaho 7”, comes across as strongly influenced by traditional WC IPA, with pleasantly dank and resiny notes in addition to new-school tropical. Just very slightly a letdown on the tongue and through the finish, which is why I’ve scored it just short of world-class, and not because of the sheer unadulterated hubris of the brewery name. (And there’s no way it’s worth the price tag, but that’s neither here nor there.) (15/20)

This will be my 5,855th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Equilibrium Brewery Wavelength – American IPA at 6.5% ABV (C$7.75 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-Apr-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 11-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with two fingers of loose pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: stone & tropical fruit, citrus, oats, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: soft medium body, moderate-low carbonation, slightly sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

Simcoe and Mosaic in the whirlpool, Mosaic and Citra dry hop. Smells pretty decent, but the flavour is slightly sweetish, and that carries through into the finish. Not bad, but it falls short of next level. (15/20)

This will be my 5,854th unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Nelson Brewing Company Cryo Pop Hazy IPA – American IPA at 6.7% ABV (C$5.00 at Econo Liquor Okotoks, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Jun-2024, reviewed 10-Jun-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, wheat and cereal grains. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

No idea whether this was just an old can (DATE YOUR DAMN CANS!) or just not very well done, but what little fruit there is feels kind of bruised, and the finish is kind of flabby. (12/20)

This will be my 5,853rd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Garrison Brewing Company Hold Fast – American Pale Ale at 5.5% ABV | 20 IBU (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 26-Mar-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 10-Jun-2024)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: grass, honey, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry short duration finish. (3/5)

Meh. There’s nothing really wrong here, but it’s definitely not interesting. (12/20)

This will be my 5,852nd unique Untappd check-in.

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company Liberation – American Pale Ale at 5% ABV (C$4.50 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 2-May-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 10-Jun-2024)

Appearance: clear pale amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, caramel. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering building bitter finish. (4/5)

Old school – and yes, a little old-fashioned. That’s not to suggest it isn’t reasonably well-executed, because it is, but it’s really not doing anything interesting in a pretty thoroughly-explored field. Ultimately I’d want more bombast from this, even at its relatively low ABV, and it’s just not there. (15/20)

This will be my 5,851st unique Untappd check-in.

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

The Establishment Brewing Company Float Along – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$5.80 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 6-May-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 9-Jun-2024)

Appearance: hazy pale gold with one finger of creamy white head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, cereal grains, resiny dank. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (9/10) Palate: smooth medium-full body, moderate-soft carbonation, medium duration mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Malt: Pilsner, Flaked Oats, Flaked Wheat, Malted Oats, Chit. Hops: Citra, Cashmere, Idaho 7, Cryo Simcoe, Mosaic. Yeast: OYL-011. This…. Might be one of the best NE DIPAs I’ve ever had. Hell, it might be one of the best beers I’ve ever had. (18/20)

This will be my 5,850th unique Untappd check-in.

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com